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    What is the scientific name of the flesh-eating beetles used to clean the flesh of museum-display bones?

    Question #41554. Asked by simplesummer. (Nov 24 03 8:01 PM)


    rlaj

    		Dermestides?

    Nov 24 03, 8:17 PM
    Kainantu

    		Dermestid beetles (Dermestes maculatus)

    They are used in many natural history collections to clean the muscle and other tissue off of animal skeletons.
    Larval dermestids measure only a few millimeters at "birth" and are small enough to deflesh brain cavities, spinal columns, and other small openings in the tiniest of animal skeletons. As a worm-like larva grows, it will eventually transform into a black beetle about 1 centimeter long.
    A bear skeleton may be eaten in a beetle colonies in several months, whereas a small rodent skeleton may be cleaned in only a few weeks.
    http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/virtualtour/dermesti.htm

    Photos at;
    http://www.skulltaxidermy.com/kits.html


    Nov 25 03, 2:50 AM

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